Shaun of the Dead (2004)

The British film, Shaun of the Dead (2004), is a romantic zombie comedy directed by Edgar Wright, who co-wrote the screenplay with Simon Pegg. In London’s Crouch End neighborhood, 29-year-old electronics salesman Shaun faces disrespect from his coworkers, a strained relationship with his stepfather Philip, and a recent break-up with his girlfriend Liz due to his failed attempt at planning an anniversary date. Seeking solace, Shaun turns to his go-to spot, the Winchester pub, where he drowns his sorrows with his slacker best friend Ed. Meanwhile, their roommate Pete complains of being bitten by a mugger and pushes Shaun to get his life together. However, their world is soon turned upside down when they discover that a zombie apocalypse has taken over London. It isn’t until they encounter two zombies in their own backyard that they realize the severity of the situation and must fight for survival using whatever household items and records they can find.

The group devises a rescue plan for Shaun’s mother and Liz. They decide to wait out the crisis at the Winchester. Stealing Pete’s car, they manage to escape from him as he has now become a zombie. Along the way, they also pick up Philip, who has been bitten, and Barbara. Ed intentionally crashes Pete’s car to force them to use Philip’s coveted Jaguar Series 3. They then go on to retrieve Liz and her flatmates David and Dianne. As Philip turns into a zombie, he reconciles with Shaun before succumbing completely. The group is forced to leave the car and their weapons behind as they sneak through the neighborhood. They briefly encounter another group led by Yvonne, where each member seems like a replica of someone in their own group. In a heroic move, Shaun protects Barbara from a zombie using a swingball pole. To reach the safety of the Winchester, they have to pretend to be zombies themselves while passing through a horde.